WHO'S HOT and WHO'S NOTDivision 1 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting leagues we've ever seen. The quality in this Division is amazing and any 1 of 7 teams could easily win the title. The leadership has chopped changed with only 4pts separating the top 7 team. There is sure to be many twists and turns the season unfolds.Bears bring in 2016 top of Division 1. They've won 44 league frames - the same as 5th place McGuigan's C. That's how competitive this Division is. 6 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat is enough to be the Christmas no.1.They say its a team game and with this Bears team it is very true. Ralf Crummy started the season on fire but when he hit a wee rough spell Seamus Keenan took up the baton. Keenan hit a rich vain of form after a slow start to the season.Sean McKevitt was a masterstroke of a signing. He hasn't been unbeatable but he adds a bit of class to the squad and a player who's recently won promotion to the top tier.Garry Powell and Adrian 'Oz' Holman are natural attacking players and when on form are a joy to watch. Both have been consistent without having to be at their very best.Neil 'baby faced assassin' Heaney isn't able to play every week but his contribution has been crucial to their early season success.Paddy Rodgers will need to up his game if there is to be trophies in the Windmill Bar. Paddy Heaney is another who will need to improve. The 'Joker' Eddie Heaney has come up with some match winning frames in December and he will need to keep that going or the trophies he's engraving are the only ones he'll get his hands on.Nan's Rams are joint top but with a superior frame difference claim no.2 spot over TJ's D and TJ's C.Mickey Nugent and Barney Preece are the stand out players for the Rams. It's no surprise with Preece. He's been smashing them in for years. Nugent is a fantastic player too and been virtually untouchable this season.Malachy Maguire has had a decent start to the season but it was the recent good form of Pat McClenaghan and Leigh McAlinden that have made Nan's Rams real title contenders.Robbie Rice started the season winning for fun but has faded off into the wilderness. Mark Pentony and Jimmy O'Hare need to get back that early season form to push the Rams on for the 2016 title push.TJ's D are the most naturally talented team in Division 1 but talent alone won't guarantee a place in the promised land. These young potters will need guile and craft to win this tight league.Adrian Annett has been brilliant this season and has led from the front in their hunt for Division 1 honours. Annett is in high quality company but so far he's been the main man.Jason Lennon has been a big miss but his return in December has been a welcome one. He has bagged some crucial wins and Davy Hanna has gone on an even better run to push TJ's D into contention.Mattie Cartmill has had a very good 1st half of the season but picked up a few defeats before the break and will be glad of the festive rest.Nicky Irwin has put in some fantastic performances this season but is far from unbeatable. Niall O'Hare and Gavin McNally have had patchy seasons so far and can certainly improve. Callum Byrne and Sean Rice will really need to up their game or they're going to spend a lot of time on the subs bench.TJ's C on 13pts are the most experienced team in the Division 1 title race. They have the guile but whether they have ability of some of the other teams remains to be seen.Richie Taylor is one player that can mix it up. Great potter and can take out good finishes but can hide the white ball when required too. He's been flying and the title push has been driven by him.Paul Taylor is more attacking and has cued well, as the ex-hockey club duo lead the promotion fight.Damien 'Diddles' McArdle has been erratic this season but has still managed some vital wins. Damien Woods is putting in a good shift so it's good to see his practice paying off.Johnny McMurray has very few wins but he's a top player and his experience in the latter stages of the season could be pivotal. Tony McGovern is struggling. He and Harry Brady have found wins hard to come by and will hope to improve.McGuigan's C only 2pts adrift of top spot are 5th in the league. 4 wins, a draw and 2 defeats their record so far.Ronan O'Reilly is enjoying another outstanding season and it is hard to fathom why a player of that class didn't enter the individuals last season. He is quality and has a great all-round game.Liam Bradley and Danny Cinnamond are both having fantastic seasons with Noel Bradley and Michael McClelland playing superb pool these boys look certain to be up there come the end of the season.With Joe Poucher now on board and hitting the ground running they've got another pure bred winner in their ranks.Matt Cregan, Johnny Sloan and Brendan Fitzpatrick can swing it for McGuigans C if they improve.McGuigan's B have work to do as they are 2pts further back and have lost 3 of their 9 games and have 10pts. This will need to improve big time.Keith Galbraith is having a cracking season. The Man United supporter is doing a lot better than his beloved reds but he's going to need a lot more help from his team mates if they are going to stay in the title race.Tony Hughes and Austin Galbraith are having good seasons but after that the rest need to improve in 2016. Mickey Kinney, Kevin Pearce and Seamus Pearce are not winning often enough to fight for top spot. Kenny Galbraith can be key for McGuigans B if they can get him back on the green baize and back to his best.Ballyholland in 7th also have 10pts and 5 off top spot. Ballyholland won their 1st 3 league games and were top of the league but the wheels have come off and are low on confidence. They recently got knocked from the Divisional Cup too but they are well capable of turning things around.Gerard McAvoy started the season like a freight train but when he hit his dip in form so did Ballyholland. Colm Shields and Giby Vettiankal have had very good starts to the season.Marty O'Hare and Brendan Keenan started fairly well but have faded away and need to pull the finger out to rescue their season. Robbie White and Manny Kelly are decent players and will need to play well if Ballyholland want to challenge for honours this season.Sheepbridge in 8th are the biggest dissapointment in Division 1. 2 wins and 2 draws from 9 games is nothing short of embarrassing.Sean O'Callaghan is the pick of the team so far. Donal McSherry started well but that's just a distant memory now. Raymie Sands has been okay but needs to improve.Seanie Markey has missed alot of games but even when he's there he's losing. Brendan Markey is just shocking. Both Markey's are good players but they are letting their team mates down badly.Kevin Quinn has potential but is rotting away in this team. Desmond Sands and Sean Baker would be safer upstairs playing 10 pin.Trainors of Canal Street, Newry are struggling with only 1 win and 3 draws from 9 games. A relegation battle is very much on the cards.Alex Carlon Is their only player in a bit of form and even that is just a wee run in December. Joe Fearon and Kenny Kearns have a few wins each before the break but nothing to write home about.Dylan Devlin started well but has vanished like sand bags in Kilmorey Street. Dylan Morgan, Frank McArdle, Chris Hughes and Conor Quinn have offered crumbs and certainly won't be any addition in the relegation fight.Murphy's Bar are way down in 10th with 2 wins and a draw the rewards from 9 league games.Kevin Crilly is the stand out performer. Crilly is on a tremendous run and is the main reason they're not rock bottom. Emmet Fearon has been outstanding too and can look forward to the rest of the campaign with confidence.Marty White - the Murphy's saviour in seasons past has hit a real dip this term and the South Armagh side badly need their hero back on form. Patrick Hollywood and Brian Harte have offered slim pickings along with Brian Larkin.Sheila Johnson has had better seasons and a few more wins from her wouldn't go a miss. Barry Larkin, Barry McNally and Ryan McIlroy have been horrendous to say the least.Bosco are 2nd from bottom only thanks to losing 2 less frames than Indo. Bosco are that lazy they can't even be bothered writing full names on the team sheet. It comes as no surprise they are in the relegation zone, although they are improving - but I suppose they couldn't get any worse.R Devlin is the pick of a bad bunch. He's been reasonably consistent and is miles ahead of any of his team mates.Liam McLoughlin gained a few wins in December but he's no Ronnie O'Sullivan. Kieran Cummins and Dee Brady are 2 players with a long history in the Newry Pool League but they've been terrible to put it mildly.Jason Maguire and Gary Wilson are just 2 of about another 7 Bosco players that are playing atrocious and certainly a Division lower might suit them better.Indo are having a torrid season and have yet to bag a league win so far. 3 draws and just 3 miserable points to celebrate is a woeful return from 9 games.In Wayne Jennings they have 1 ray of light. He's had a fantastic 1st half of the season but without a bit of back-up the Indo's Division 1 days are numbered.Des Taggart, Gerard O'Connell, John O'Flaherty and Stephen Quinn have had minimal contributions. Eamon Pollock, Brian O' Connor and Conor Curran are like a prize from a cheap cracker - not worth the effort. Only a miracle will save the Indo from relegation.Happy New Year Cuiests and look out for the Premier Division 'Who's hot and who's not' coming soon!